Necessary Changes

With the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Dallas Stars 6-3 on Thursday night to win the Western Conference Finals, we are now poised to see the Oilers and the Florida Panthers duke it out for the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive year.

While the result of Edmonton's Western Conference Finals series was the same this season, there was one glaring difference in how the team celebrated the outcome.

When Oilers superstar Connor McDavid was presented with the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after his team's triumph in the Western Conference Finals a year ago, he notably elected not to touch the trophy. The team would then go on to lose the Stanley Cup Finals to the Panthers in seven games.

Due to the results of last year's appearance in the Finals, McDavid switched strategies yesterday evening, electing to touch the trophy during the presentation ceremony.

When asked why he decided to touch the trophy this time around, McDavid lightheartedly commented, "It's pretty obvious, I think. Don't touch it last year; you don't win. Touch it this year; hopefully, we win."

As followers of Jesus, we don't want to make drastic changes in our lives based on superstition. However, this innocuous moment can serve as an opportunity to discuss the times when it is appropriate for us to make necessary changes and try a different approach to achieve better results.

Through experience, we understand that we all have proclivities towards certain sins and have previously lost the battle against them. While certain sinful behaviors may not prove to be significant sources of temptation to us regularly, other sins seem to be a typical fountain from which temptation commonly flows.

Suppose we discover that we have been struggling with a particular sin or temptation for an extended period. In that case, it is certainly worth asking if there is a necessary change we should make to foster greater obedience to the Lord.

Speaking about things that bring temptations to individuals, Jesus taught in Matthew 18:8-9 (ESV), "And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire."

Many theologians have labeled the concept conveyed in this passage as "radical amputation." The basic idea is both challenging and simple. If you find yourself struggling with a particular temptation or sin, do absolutely whatever is necessary to remove anything that might prove to be a stumbling block to you.

So, what might the process of "radical amputation" look like for us today?

The answer to that question would vary from person to person, but here are a few practical examples to get us started.

Perhaps a person who is regularly tempted to sin on an electronic device may need to be willing to give up that device altogether, regardless of how inconvenient it might be. In cases where removing the device altogether is not feasible, installing specific programs that limit the individual's access to the content, thereby reducing temptation, would be advisable.

For another person, it might look like refusing to enter certain stores or locations that tend to prompt them to make sinful choices.

Finally, a person who is prone to sinfully overindulge in a particular activity may need to decide to cut out the activity altogether to avoid putting themselves in a position where they will be tempted to sin again.

Of course, "radical amputation" will manifest differently in each person, depending on their proclivities. Additionally, it undoubtedly requires wisdom, discernment, and the power of the Holy Spirit to implement the principle properly.

Also, what we can say for sure is that anyone struggling with a particular sin should take a serious look at the necessary changes that need to be made in their life to put themselves in a position to succeed.

We must not become arrogant, thinking that we can routinely flirt with temptation without finding ourselves disobeying and dishonoring God.

Proverbs 6:27-28 (NASB) reminds us, "Can anyone take fire in his lap And his clothes not be burned? Or can a person walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?"

Today, let's take some time to reflect on our lives and see what changes we need to make to honor God with our lives better. Regardless of how difficult it may be, let's be willing to "radically amputate" anything that might cause us to stumble in our walk with Him.

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to rightly see the areas in my life where I am regularly drawn to temptation. Please give me wisdom and strength to remove any obstacles that might tempt me to sin so that I may live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.